Colorado River Basin Characterizing the Colorado River Basin 3 rd - - PowerPoint PPT Presentation

Freshwater Mussels in the Colorado River Basin

Characterizing the Colorado River Basin

• 3rd largest river basin in Texas
• Flows from Dawson County to Matagorda Bay
• Colorado River is 2nd largest river but only 6th largest

by annual flow volume

• 11 major reservoirs

Demographics in the Colorado River Basin

• Population- >2 million
• Region F- 618,889 (2% of state’s

population)

• Region K- 1,412,834 (6% of state’s

population)

• Major cities
• Odessa, Midland, San Angelo,

Brownwood, Austin, Bay City

• Recent challenges
• Rice farmers (Wharton and

Matagorda Counties)

• Flood control measures (Austin

area)

Regional Water Planning Areas

Water Use, Supply, and Demand: Region F

Water Use, Supply, and Demand: Region K

Surface Water Quality in the Colorado River Basin

• 9 watersheds
• 24 water bodies

listed as impaired (2010 TCEQ)

• 2 watershed

protection plans initiated

Fragmentation in the Colorado River Basin

Year 1-100 100-500 500-1000 1000-2000 2000+ 1997 409,729 (n = 10,669) 2,506,869 (n = 10,503) 2,644,220 (n = 3,747) 3,644,885 (n = 2,625) 13,806,334 (n = 2,133) 2002 429,450 (n = 10,957) 2,410,552 (n = 10,263) 2,371,855 (n = 3,366) 3,349,483 (n = 2,407) 12,617,452 (n = 2,006) 2007 459,727 (n = 12,587) 2,503,912 (n = 10,736) 2,275,527 (n = 3,220) 3,219,809 (n = 2,269) 13,383,427 (n = 2,182) Change over 10 years +49,998 ac +1,918 farms

• 2,957 ac

+233 farms

• 368,693 ac
• 527 farms
• 425,076 ac
• 356 farms
• 422,907 ac

+49 farms

Fragmentation in the Colorado River Basin

Market Value in the Colorado River Basin

Year $/Acre (Colorado River Basin) $/Acre (Texas Average) 1997 $421 $500 2002 $648 $677 2007 $1,258 $1,196

Texas freshwater mussels

• ~300 mussel species in North America; ~50 species in

Texas

• Many Texas species are endemic
• Bottom-dwelling invertebrates
• Filter-feeders
• Occur in variety of habitats
• Most Texas species require free-flowing streams;

some can survive in impounded areas

Role in aquatic ecosystems

• Food sources for a variety of insects, fish, birds, and

mammals

• Remove suspended particles and pollutants from

the water column, helping to improve water quality

• Indicators of environmental quality

Primary threats

• Habitat alteration and degradation
• Water flow alterations, impoundments
• Sedimentation
• Water pollution
• Invasive species

Number of species per river basin

23 species in Colorado River Basin

Federal listing status

• Positive 90-day finding for 9 mussels, Dec 15, 2009
• Positive 90-day finding for 2 mussels, Dec 16, 2009
• Negative 90-day finding for 1 mussel, March 23,

2010

• 12-month finding for 5 central Texas mussels, Oct 6,

2011

Texas Fatmucket Golden Orb Smooth Pimpleback Texas Pimpleback Texas Fawnsfoot

5 Candidate Mussel Species in the Colorado River Basin

What does all this mean…

What might be impacted with federal listing?

• Potentially, any activity that pulls water out or puts

water into aquatic system, or that may directly impact the system (e.g., bridge construction)

• Texas Department of Transportation
• Existing reservoirs
• New reservoirs
• Agricultural activities
• Power plants
• Wastewater treatment plants
• Recreational activities

The Scenario

• Population in the Colorado River Basin

continues to increase at predicted rates (e.g. 100% increase in the next 50 years in Lower Colorado)

• Trends in water demand remain

consistent (e.g. municipal use will eventually surpass irrigation use)

• All 5 candidate species are listed as

endangered

• Critical habitat is designated
• Brazos shiners as reference (stream miles plus a buffer)

The Response

• How do we address water quality and quantity

concerns in the Nueces River Basin from a conservation finance perspective?

1. What is the program structure?

• Who are the players?
• How does the money flow?

2. What policy changes are needed,?

• Local, state, federal, none?

3. What is the implementation plan?

• Who implements?
• When does implementation occur?

4. How can we scale these ideas up?

• Can the program be scaled up from river basin

to state or national? 5. What science and analyses is needed?

“Funding Plan”